Robota at Oxford's Schwarzman Centre: A Mechanical Adaptation

The first play staged at Oxford University's new £185mn Schwarzman Centre is an adaptation of Karel Čapek's 1920s sci-fi thriller 'Robota'. The production, which explores the creation of flesh-and-blood robots, has been criticized for failing to achieve a human register, feeling as mechanical as its name suggests. The Schwarzman Centre, a major architectural addition to the university, is designed to host performances and events. The play's reception highlights challenges in adapting classic works for contemporary audiences.